Knockdown metallic receptacles



' Aug. 20, 1963 o. B. COCHRAN, JR

KNOCKDOWN METALLIC RECEPTACLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1961 INVENTOR: Oscne ECocHRA BY M ATTO EY Aug; 20, 1963 o. B. COCHRAN, JR 3,101,226

' I KNOCKDOWN METALLIC RECEPTACLES Filed m 5, 1961 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m ii 4 LJ9 \HVENTOEt.

; 05cm ECQcHRANJR Arrow United States Patent 3,101,226 KNOCKDOWN METALLIC RECEPTACLES Oscar B. Cochran, In, Durham, Conn, assignor to Venture Products, Inc, Middletown, Comm, a corporation of Connecticut Y Filed May 5, 1961, Ser. No. 126,737 9 Claims. (Cl. 312-257) This invention relates to deposit and collection receptacles and more especially to a metallic box which can be quickly knocked down or put together. Receptacles of this type are generally used for storage of most solid substances, and especially for outdoor storage of articles such as newspapers, sand, wood, toys and implements.

It is an object of this invention to provide a knockdown metallic receptacle wherein the constituent parts, when dismantled, are substantially flat and capable of being packaged or stored together in a minimum amount of space.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a knockdown polygonal receptacle composed of a series front and rear wall, and an open frame near the top of ice . 2 The bottom 12 has upwardly extending flanges 12b which telescopically fit into inverted U-shaped grooves 22 formed between the respective lower edge portions of brackets 23 and the wall faces to which the brackets are attached. The, upper edge portions of brackets 23 are secured respectively to the proximate faces of the front wall 13 and back wall 14 by spot welds 24 or the like. The proximate faces of the front and back walls thereto by suitable means such as spot welds 27. The

- upper edge portions of brackets 26 are spacedfrom the the box, which frame serves as a key to the series. All Y of the members are connected in a series, with the key member. In order to dismantle the receptacle, the key member is first removed, after which the remaining mem-i bers may be successively detachedby proceeding to the 1 ceptional light weight, strength, rigidity and structural simplicity.

Some of the objects of the invention havin-gbeen stated, other objects will appear as the description prof ceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich-- FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a receptacle constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail view'showing the connection between the bottom of the receptacle on one hand and the front and rear walls on the other;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the connection between the key frame on one hand and the two side walls of the receptacle on the other;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional plan view taken along line 6-6 in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 7 is an exploded isometric view of the receptacle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the nueral 10 designates broadly -my improved "receptacle which is composed of two trapezoidal side walls 11, a rectangular bottom 12, a rectangular front wall 13, a

rectangular back wall 14, a rectangular key frame or bracket 15, and a rectangular cover 16. a

The proximate faces of side walls 11 each has secured respective proximate faces of the front and back walls to thereby provide grooves 28 fortelescopically receiving 31 or the like, and these brackets are positioned horizontally at the same elevation as that of brackets 26.

The upper edge portions of brackets3il' are spaced from the respective proximate side wall faces to provide substant-ially U-shaped horizontal grooves 32 for telescopically receiving vertical flanges 15b of bracket 15.

it can be observed from the drawings and the above detailed description that the constituent members of the receptacle form an interconnected series in which each member or group of members are detachably locked in position by an adjacent succeeding member or group of members so that, upon removal of a key member of the series, each succeeding member or group of members of the series can be successively detached in apredetermined order. More specifically,the first of the seriesin the order of assembly comprises a pair of side wall members '11, 11; the second of the series, a bottom member 12; the third of the series, a second pair of side wall members 13, 14; and the fourth of the series, the key or frame member 15. v The bottom portions of first members 11, 11 are releasably connected to the second member 12 by a first fastening means including vertical flanges 12a, 12a which telescopically fit in grooves 21, 21; the second member 12 is releasably connected to the third members 13, 14 of the series by a second fastening rnean-s'including' vertical flanges 12b, 12b which telescopically fit in grooves 22, 22; and the third members 13, 14 of the series are releasably connected to the fourth member 15 of the series by :a third fastening means including vertical bers 11, 11 by a fourth fastening means including flanges 15b, 15b which telescopically fit in grooves 32, 32.

In assembled position, the first telescopic fastening means 12a, 12a, 21, 21 is held in lockedposition by the bottom 12 and the second telescopic fastening means 12b, 22, 22; and the second telescopic fastening means 12b, 12b, 12b, 22, 22, in turn, is held in locked position b-ythe second pair of side walls 13, 14v and the third' telescopic fastening means 15a, 15a, 28, 28. The third telescopic fastening means 15a, 15a, 28, 28 and the fourth telescopic fastening means 15b, 1517,32, 32 are releasable simultaneously at the beginning of a dismantling of the receptacle.

Dismantling of the receptacle must be elfected in the reverse order of its assembly, by first removing member 15, then the first pair of side walls 13, 14, and then the bottom 12. Thus, the key member 15 is lifted to unlock the third fastening means 15a, 15a, 28,. 28 during which the second pair of side Walls 13, 14 are lifted. Then the bottom member 15 maybe lifted to unlock the first fastening means 12a, 12a, 21, 21 and to complete the dismantling operation.

It will be noted that the lifting of key member 15 during the first dismantling step, also releases the fourth fastening means 15b, 15b, 32, 32 which serves solely as a lateral support for the upper portions of the first pair of side walls 11, 11. Therefore, the release of the fourth fastening means will not change the upright positions of side Walls 11, 11 which then support the bottom and other walls.

In [FIGURES 1-6 of the drawings, the four side walls and bottom are shown in assembled position, in which position the above-mentioned telescopic fastening means are contracted, that is, the flanges 12a, 12b, 15a and 15b are completely inserted in grooves 21, 22, 28 and 32 respectively. When dismantling the receptacle, these contracted telescopic fastening means are extended vertically and separated as shown in FIGURE 7.

It can 'be further observed from the description above and from FIGURE 7 of-the drawings that the tongue and groove fastening means or connections 12a, 21 and 15b, 32 lie in planes parallel with their associated side walls 11, 11 and that tongue and groove fastening means or connections 12b, 22 and 15a, 28 lie in planes parallel to their associated side walls 13 and 14. Since each side wall 11, 11, 13 and 14 and each of its respective fastening means lie in vertical planes as shown, the plane of each fastening means will therefore be parallel to a vertical axis parallel to the planes of the other fastening means or connections.

Suitable bolts 29 and 29a may be provided as supplementary securing means for eliminating any objection able play at the top and bottom members 15 and 12 of the series. Bolt 29, when secured in position as shown, will also lock the key member which, in turn, will prevent any of the remaining interlocked members of the series from becoming detached. Bolt 29a serves a somewhat similar function with respect to the connection between members 12, 13, 14 but will not be necessary for the purpose of preventing the latter members from becoming detached unless and until the key member 15 is removed fromthe closed series.

In order to dismantle the receptacle while resting upon a fiat surface, the, bolt 29 is first removed to permit the removal of key member 15. Then members 13, 14, member 12, and members 11, 11 may be detached in the order named.

The above-described interlocked series of detachable members provides a rigid connection between the side walls 11, 11 and front and back walls13 and 14' on one hand, and the horizontally disposed and vertically spaced bottom and key members 12 and 15. The vertical walls 11, 13 and 14 are t not otherwise secured one to the other; however, the wall edge portions are overlapped at the four corners of the receptacle (FIGURE 6). In other words, the front vertical inturned flanges 11a and the adjacent edge portions of side walls 11 provide an angular pocket for the reception of a similarly shaped angular portion formed by flange 13a at the opposite vertical edges of front wall 13. Similar angular pockets are provided at back flanges 11a for receiving angular portions or flanges 14a.

The top edges of side walls 11, 11 are sloped forwardly and downwardly so that, cover 16, when closed, will shed rain or condensation if the container is used for outdoor storage. The cover 16 is hingedly secured to the top edge of back wall 14 as at 34.

Although the present. invention has been illustrated and described in association with a receptacle having four vertical side walls, it is to be understood that the same principle may be employed in connection with polygonal receptacles generally without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The wide range of receptacle shapes to which the present invention isv applicable is apparent from the tongue and groove or telescopic connections between the various parts. It is of especial importance to note that each of these telescopic connections is releasable in a direction substantially parallel to the direction each of the other connections is releasable. Specifically, the bottom 12 is telescopically mounted upon and vertically releasable from the side walls 11, the front and back walls 13 and 14 are telescopically, mounted upon and vertically releasable from the bottom 12, and the key frame 15 is telescopically mounted upon and vertically releasable from the upper portions of all of the walls.

In the drawings and specification a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, and although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic sense and not intended for the purpose of limitation, the scope of invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A knockdown receptacle comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed side walls, a second pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed side walls arranged transversely of said first pair, a quadrilateral bottom arranged transversely of both of said pairs of side walls, a first means for telescopically securing opposite edges of said bottom respectively upon the lower portions of the first pair of side walls, "a second means including a telescopic connection between the lower portions of the second pair of side walls and the other opposite edges of the bottom for releasably locking the first means in secured position, and a third means telescopically secured to the upper portions of the second pair of side walls for releasably locking said second means in secured position, said third means including a rectangular frame having an opening therein for permitting access to the interior of the receptacle and each of said telescopic securing means including a tongue and groove connection, said second and first telescopic means being vertically movable and successively releasable upon release of said third means. 2. A knockdown receptacle comprising a horizontally disposed polygonal bottom, a vertical side wall for each side of said bottom, means for telescopically securing the lower portion of at least one of said walls to an edge of said bottom, a second means including a telescopic connection between the lower portions of the other of said side walls and the other of said bottom edges for releasably locking said first means in secured position, and a third means telescopically connected to the upper portions of said other side walls for releasably looking said second means in secured position, said third means including a rectangular frame having an opening therein for permitting access to the interior of the receptacle and each of said telescopic securing means including a tongue and groove connection, said third, second and first telescopic securing means being vertically movable and successively releasable in the order named.

3. A knockdown receptacle comprising a pair of vertically disposed and laterally spaced side Walls, a horizontally disposed quadrilateral bottom, means for releasably fastening the lower portions of said pair of side walls respectively to opposite edges of saidbottom, a second pair of vertically disposed and laterally spaced side walls, a second means for releasably locking said first means in fastened position and for releasably fastening the lower portions of the second pair of side walls respectively to the other opposed edges of said bottom, and a third means releasably engageable with the upper portions of said second pair of side walls for releasably locking said second means in fastened position, said third means including a rectangular frame having an opening therein for permitting access to the interior of the receptacle and said first, second and third means each including a telescopic tongue and groove connection engageable and disengageable along a plane substantially parallel to an axis parallel to the planes of engagement of the other telescopic connections.

4. A knockdown receptacle comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertical side walls, a second pair of laterally spaced vertical side walls arranged transversely of said first pair, a quadrilateral bottom arranged transwersely of both of said pairs of side walls, vertically extensible telescopic means releasably fastening the lower portions of said first pair of side walls respectively to opposite edges of said bottom, a second vertically extensible telescopic means releasably tastening the lower portions of said second pair of side walls to the other opposite edges of said bottom, locking means including said second fastening means tor securing said first telescopic fastening means in contracted position, a third vertically extensible telescopic means releasably fastening the upper portions of said first and second pairs of side walls in fixed relative positions, and a second locking means including said third fastening means fior securing said second telescopic fastening means in contracted position, whereby upon release of said third fastening means the release of said second and first fastening means may be successively effected in the order named by said second and first locking means respectively.

5. A knockdown receptacle comprising a pair ct laterally spaced vertically disposed side panels, a horizontally disposed quadrilateral bottom panel having its opposite edges telescopically mounted in contracted position respectively upon the lower portions of said side panels, a second pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed side panels arranged transversely of said first pair, the lower portions of said second pair of side panels being telescopically mounted in contracted position respectively upon the other opposite edges of said bottom, and a second horizontally disposed quadrilateral panel having its edges telescopically mounted in contracted position respectively upon the upper portions of said first and second pairs of side panels, each of said telescopic mounts being vertically extensible and releasable whereby the receptacle may be knocked down by successively lifting said quadrilateral second panel, said second pair or side panels, and said quadrilateral bottom panel in the order named.

6. A knockdown receptacle comprising a pair of vertically disposed side panels, a horizontally disposed polygcoal bottom panel having two edges thereof telescopically mounted in contracted position respectively upon the lower portions of said side panels, at least one other vertically disposed side panel, the lower portion of said other side panel being telescopically mounted in contracted position upon another edge of said polygonal bottom panel, and a second horizontally disposed poly- (onal panel having its edges telescopically mounted in contracted positions respectively upon the upper portions of said side panels, each of said telescopic mounts being vertically extensible and releasable whereby the receptacle may be knocked down by successively lifting said polygonal second panel, said other side wall, and said polygonal bottom panel in the order named.

7. A knockdown receptacle as defined in claim 6 wherein said upper polygonal panel comprises a frame having an opening therein for permitting access to the interior oi the receptacle.

8. A knockdown receptacle as defined in claim 5 Wherein said second quadrilateral panel comprises a frame having an opening therein for permitting access to the interior or the receptacle.

9. A receptacle as defined in claim 4 wherein said first, second and third fastening means each comprises a tongue and groove connection, each or said connections being releasable respectively in planes substantially parallel to a common axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 744,405 Reno Nov. 17, 1903 1,224,234 Taber May 1, 1917 1,437,195 Rasmussen Nov. 28, 1922 1,713,661 Kemball May 21, 1929 2,569,828 Peacock Oct. 2, 1951 2,966,385 Murphy Dec. 27, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 777,263 Great Britain June 19, 1957 

6. A KNOCKDOWN RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIDE PANELS, HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED POLYGONAL BOTTOM PANEL HAVING TWO EDGES THEREOF TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED IN CONTRACTED POSITION RESPECTIVELY UPON THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE PANELS, AT LEAST ONE OTHER, VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIDE PANEL, THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID OTHER SIDE PANEL BEING TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED IN CONTRACTED POSITION UPON ANOTHER EDGE OF SAID POLYGONAL BOTTOM PANEL, AND A SECOND HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED POLYGONAL PANEL HAVING ITS EDGES TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED IN CONTRACTED POSITIONS UPON THE UPPER PORTIONS 